Dr. Michael Ashburn is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist. His areas of expertise include trigger point injections, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and nerve block. Dr. Ashburn is affiliated with Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. His medical residency was performed at a hospital affiliated with the University of Alabama. Dr. Ashburn is in-network for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE, in addition to other insurance carriers. He has received professional recognition including the following: Philadelphia Super Doctors and Recognized by Best Doctors in America 2009-2010, 2011-2012.

Dr. Philip Maurer practices anesthesiology and pain medicine. He attended Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College for medical school and subsequently trained at Jefferson University Hospitals, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Boston Medical Center for residency. In his practice, Dr. Maurer focuses on musculoskeletal problems. Patient ratings for Dr. Maurer average 3.5 stars out of 5. He is in-network for Coventry, United Healthcare HSA, United Healthcare HMO, and more. He has received the following distinction: Commendation of the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Maurer is professionally affiliated with Aria Health and Lankenau Medical Center. He has an open panel.

Dr. Rishin Patel works as an anesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist. Dr. Patel is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by his patients. United Healthcare Plans, United Healthcare Choice, and United Healthcare HSA are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Patel honors. After attending Temple University School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is professionally affiliated with Lankenau Medical Center. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Ignacio Badiola is an anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist. These areas are among his clinical interests: pain management, herniated disc, and headache. Dr. Badiola is affiliated with Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He honors Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE, in addition to other insurance carriers. His education and training includes medical school at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a hospital affiliated with the University of Florida Health Science Center. Dr. Badiola speaks Spanish.

Dr. Eric Greenblatt works as an anesthesiologist and intensivist. His professional affiliations include Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Greenblatt accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, TRICARE, and more. He attended Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons and then went on to complete his residency at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He has received professional recognition including the following: Recognized by Best Doctors in America 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012.

Dr. William Kofke works as an anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist. He is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE. He attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and subsequently trained at UPMC Mercy and Massachusetts General Hospital for residency. Dr. Kofke has received the following distinction: Recognized by Best Doctors in America 2009-2010, 2011-2012. His professional affiliations include Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Jacob Gutsche's medical specialty is anesthesiology and critical care (intensive care medicine). He takes Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, TRICARE, and more. After attending the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Lankenau Medical Center and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gutsche's professional affiliations include Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. John Farrar's specialties are anesthesiology, pain medicine, and neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). He honors Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, TRICARE, and more. His education and training includes medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and a hospital affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Farrar's professional affiliations include Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Theodore Cheek is a medical specialist in anesthesiology and critical care (intensive care medicine). Dr. Cheek accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, TRICARE, and more. His education and training includes medical school at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He is professionally affiliated with Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP).

Dr. Richard Epstein is a medical specialist in anesthesiology. In his practice, Dr. Epstein focuses on anesthesia. He accepts several insurance carriers, including United Healthcare Platinum, United Healthcare Compass, and United Healthcare Navigate. Dr. Epstein is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. For his professional training, Dr. Epstein completed residency programs at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and Temple University Hospital. Dr. Epstein is professionally affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Dr. Peter Pryzbylkowski is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist. Areas of particular interest for Dr. Pryzbylkowski include pain management and chronic pain. He is in-network for Amerigroup, United Healthcare Platinum, and United Healthcare Compass, in addition to other insurance carriers. After completing medical school at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Dr. Pryzbylkowski performed his residency at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Virtua Memorial and Crozer-Keystone Health System.

Dr. Peter Yi's areas of specialization are anesthesiology, pain medicine, and critical care (intensive care medicine). Dr. Yi attended medical school at Temple University School of Medicine. His medical residency was performed at Lankenau Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Areas of expertise for Dr. Yi include back pain, cancer pain, and neck pain. The average patient rating for Dr. Yi is 3.5 stars out of 5. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Yi accepts. His professional affiliations include Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Jiri Horak is a Philadelphia, PA physician who specializes in anesthesiology and critical care (intensive care medicine). Dr. Horak is professionally affiliated with Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He takes Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE, as well as other insurance carriers. He graduated from Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine and then he performed his residency at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a hospital affiliated with MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Allegheny University. In addition to English, he speaks Czech.

Dr. William Vernick's medical specialty is anesthesiology and critical care (intensive care medicine). He has a special interest in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). He is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE. Dr. Vernick studied medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College. His training includes residency programs at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Frankford Hospital. Dr. Vernick is professionally affiliated with Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Maurizio Cereda is a physician who specializes in anesthesiology and critical care (intensive care medicine). In his practice, Dr. Cereda focuses on intensive care and mechanical ventilation. He is affiliated with Pennsylvania Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He is in-network for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE, as well as other insurance carriers. Dr. Cereda attended the University of Milan Faculty of Medicine and Surgery for medical school and subsequently trained at UNC Hospitals for residency.

Dr. Susan Nicolson is a pediatric anesthesiologist, pain specialist, and pediatric critical care specialist. Dr. Nicolson attended Albany Medical College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and then went on to complete her residency at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is an in-network provider for United Healthcare Platinum, United Healthcare Compass, United Healthcare Navigate, and more. She has received the following distinction: Philadelphia Super Doctors. She is affiliated with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Monmouth Medical Center, and Capital Health.

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What is Anesthesiology?

Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine dealing with the safety and comfort of patients during medical procedures, especially surgery. While many people think of anesthesiology as strictly providing pain control, anesthesiologists are also responsible for monitoring and supporting the health of patients during surgery. By paying attention to a patient’s vital signs, an anesthesiologist can both judge how effective the anesthesia is working and intervene if there are problems.

In many cases, an anesthesiologist evaluates patients before surgery, manages their health during surgery, and treats their pain after surgery. They may offer general anesthesia (where a patient is ‘put under’), local anesthesia to numb a certain area, or sedatives to calm anxiety before a medical procedure. Some anesthesiologists use their training in pain relief to help patients who suffer from chronic or cancer pain.

During a surgical procedure, anesthesiologists monitor the health of their patients. Among other vital signs, they may be watching:

Heart rate

Blood pressure

Oxygen level

Body temperature

Level of consciousness

If there is a sudden problem during surgery, the anesthesiologist is generally one of the first to know. They act quickly to correct the problem and keep the patient safe through surgery.

More than just the doctor who puts you to sleep, anesthesiologists are highly trained physicians who work to keep you safe and comfortable.